Clinton Puts Spotlight On Women's Issues

By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Elevating Rights Is a Focus of Secretary



She talked chickens with female farmers in Kenya. She listened to the excruciating stories of rape victims in war-torn eastern Congo. And in South Africa, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a housing project built by poor women, where she danced with a choir singing "Heel-a-ree! Heel-a-ree!"

Clinton's just-concluded 11-day trip to Africa has sent the clearest signal yet that she intends to make women's rights one of her signature issues and a higher priority than ever before in American diplomacy.

She plans to press governments on abuses of women's rights and make women more central in U.S. aid programs.

She plans to press governments on abuses of women's rights and make women more central in U.S. aid programs.

But her efforts go beyond the marble halls of government and show how she is redefining the role of secretary of state. Her trips are packed with town hall meetings and visits to micro-credit projects and women's dinners. Ever the politician, she is using her star power to boost women who could be her allies.

"It's just a constant effort to elevate people who, in their societies, may not even be known by their own leaders," Clinton said in an interview. "My coming gives them a platform, which then gives us the chance to try and change the priorities of the governments."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081702379.html?hpid=topnews

Great job, Hillary!!! It's about time that we make the equal rights of women a high US diplomatic priority.

:applause:

Well done. :thumbsup:

A totally different approach from Condi's, isn't it?



:D